Volume 27 Number 1 Article 12

10-15-2008

Fair Lady Goldberry, Daughter of the River Fair Lady Goldberry, Daughter of the River

Ann McCauley Basso University of South Florida

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Recommended Citation Recommended Citation Basso, Ann McCauley (2008) "Fair Lady Goldberry, Daughter of the River," Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature: Vol. 27 : No. 1 , Article 12. Available at: https://dc.swosu.edu/mythlore/vol27/iss1/12

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Abstract Abstract Examines Goldberry as an intermediary figure between noble or ethereal female characters like Galadriel and Éowyn and everyday women like Rosie Cotton, and shows how her relationship with Tom provides Sam with a paradigm for the ideal marriage. Considers Goldberry an Eve-like figure.

Additional Keywords Additional Keywords Tolkien, J.R.R.—Characters—Goldberry

This article is available in Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature: https://dc.swosu.edu/mythlore/vol27/iss1/12

F a i r L a d y G o l d b e r r y ,

D a u g h t e r o f t h e R i v e r

A n n M c C a u l e y B a s s o

"Come, dear folk!" she said, taking Frodo by the hand. "Laugh and be merry! I am Goldberry, daughter of the River." (T olkien , Lord of the Rings [LotR] I:7, 121)

C r it ic s h a v e t a k e n J .R .R . T o lk ie n t o t a s k for th e p a u c ity o f

f e m a le ch a ra cters in The Lord of the Rings, w ith s o m e a n a ly s ts

e v e n g o in g so far a s to c h a r g e h im w ith m is o g y n y . C a th er in e

S t im p s o n a sse r ts th a t T o lk ie n 's w o m e n are b u ilt u p o n " th e

m o s t h a c k n e y e d o f s te r e o ty p e s" (18), a n d E d ith L. C r o w e m a in ta in s , "T h e m o s t

p r o b le m a tic a sp e c t o f T o lk ie n is in d e e d th e d is a p p o in t in g ly l o w p e r c e n ta g e o f

f e m a le s th a t a p p e a r in h is b e s t -k n o w n a n d b e s t - lo v e d w o r k s , The Hobbit a n d The Lord of the Rings" (272). C lo se a n a ly s is o f th e tex t, h o w e v e r , r e v e a ls a ro ster o f

w o m e n w h o s e ch a ra cters are r ich a n d d iv e r s e , w e l l d r a w n , a n d w o r th y o f

r e sp e c t. In fact, as L isa H o p k in s n o te s , " th eir v e r y sc a r c ity s e e m s to in v e s t th e m

w ith a n air o f u n iq u e n e s s a n d o f a lm o st ta lis m a n ic sta tu s" (365). T o lk ie n c re a tes

t w o k in d s o f w o m e n : th e n o b le w o m a n o f e le v a te d s ta tu r e — G a la d r ie l, A r w e n ,

E o w y n — a n d th e r u stic , d o w n -to -e a r th w o m e n , t y p if ie d b y fe m a le h o b b its , su c h

a s R o s ie C o tto n . A ll o f th e fe m a le ch a ra cters in th e n o v e l ca n b e n e a t ly d iv id e d

b e tw e e n th e s e t w o c a te g o r ie s , w ith o n e e x c e p tio n : G o ld b e r r y , T o m B o m b a d il's

" p re tty la d y ," d a u g h te r o f th e r iv er . A lth o u g h G o ld b e r r y a p p e a r s o n ly b r ie f ly in

th e n o v e l , b o th h e r ch a ra cter a n d h e r a c t io n s are th e m a t ic a lly s ig n if ic a n t ,

p r o v id in g sy m m e tr y w ith la ter e v e n ts a n d ch a ra cters , b r id g in g th e g a p b e tw e e n

th e A n g lo -S a x o n , n o b le w o m e n a n d th e r u st ic w o m e n o f th e S h ire , a n d p r o v id in g

a n E v e f ig u r e w h o p a r a lle ls th e M a r y f ig u r e G a la d r ie l.

W e a s r e a d e r s are a w a r e o f G o ld b e r r y 's e x is te n c e e v e n b e fo r e w e m e e t

h er . T o m B o m b a d il s in g s o f h e r a s h e w a lk s h o m e :

D o w n a lo n g u n d er H ill, sh in in g in th e su n ligh t,W aitin g o n th e d o o rstep for th e c o ld starlight,

T here m y p re tty la d y is, R iv er-w o m a n 's dau gh ter,S lend er as th e w illo w -w a n d , clearer th a n th e w ater.

(LotR I:6, 117)

Ann McCauley Basso

A fte r r e s c u in g th e h o b b its fr o m O ld M a n W illo w , T o m in v ite s th e m to h is h o m e ,

b u t in s is ts th a t F r o d o p o s tp o n e h is ta le u n t il th e y are s e a te d at th e d in n e r tab le ,

fo r " G o ld b e r ry is w a it in g " (I:6, 116), a n d T o m , th e c o n s id e r a te s p o u s e w h o b r in g s

f lo w e r s to h is w ife , d o e s n o t w a n t to b e la te . B o m b a d il a p p e a r s to b e a g o o d

h u sb a n d , a n d h e a n d G o ld b e r r y s e e m to e n jo y a h a p p y m a r r ia g e . A lth o u g h The Lord of the Rings d o e s n o t s p e c if ic a l ly s ta te th a t G o ld b e r r y a n d T o m are m a r r ied ,

T o lk ie n 's " A d v e n tu r e s o f T o m B o m b a d il" g iv e s u s th e h is to r y a n d m a r ita l s ta tu s

o f th is c o u p le :

O ld T o m B om b ad il h a d a m erry w e d d in g , c r o w n e d all w ith bu ttercu p s, ha t a n d feath er sh ed d in g; h is b r id e w ith fo rg etm en o ts a n d fla g -lilie s for garlan d

w a s rob ed all in s ilver-green . ("A dventures" 16)

T o lk ie n h a d v e r y sp e c if ic id e a s o n m a r r ia g e for h is h o b b it ch aracters:

A s far as I k n o w H o b b its w e re u n iv er sa lly m o n o g a m o u s (in d e e d th e y v ery se ld o m m arried a se c o n d tim e, e v e n if w ife or h u sb a n d d ie d v e ry young);

a n d I sh o u ld sa y th at their fa m ily arran gem en ts w e re 'patrilinear' rather

th a n patriarchal. [ .. .] B ut th e g o v ern m en t o f a 'fam ily ', as o f th e real unit:

th e 'h o u seh o ld ', w a s n o t a m o n a rch y (ex cep t b y accident). It w a s a 'd yarch y', in w h ic h m aster an d m istr ess h a d eq u a l statu s, if d ifferen t

fu n ction s . (T olk ien , Letters 293)

T h is fo r m u la s e e m s to h a v e e x te n d e d b e y o n d th e b o r d e r s o f th e S h ire in to th e

O ld F o re st a s w e l l , fo r T o m a n d h is w if e e x h ib it m u tu a l c o n s id e r a t io n a n d

r e sp e c t. B o m b a d il's s o n g fo c u s e s o n G o ld b e r r y 's a p p e a r a n c e , b u t w e so o n lea rn

th a t sh e is w is e a n d p e r c e p t iv e a s w e l l . A s F ro d o a n d h is fr ie n d s e n te r th e h o m e

o f T o m B o m b a d il, h is w if e ju m p s u p to g r e e t th e m , in s t in c t iv e ly g o in g d ir e c t ly to

F ro d o , w h o , a s R in g b ea r e r , r e p r e se n ts th e m o s t im p o r ta n t in d iv id u a l in th e

g r o u p : " 'C o m e d ea r fo lk !' sh e sa id , ta k in g F r o d o b y th e h a n d ." M o r e o v e r ,

G o ld b e r r y r e c o g n iz e s h im a s a n e lf - fr ie n d , t e l l in g F ro d o " th e l ig h t in y o u r e y e s

a n d th e r in g in y o u r v o ic e t e lls it" (LotR I:7, 121-22).

O n o n e le v e l , G o ld b e r r y e m b o d ie s d o m e s t ic ity a n d h o s p ita lity .

Im p e c c a b ly d r e s s e d in a g r e e n a n d s ilv e r g o w n , sh e a w a its th e arriva l o f h e r

h u sb a n d . D in n e r is o n th e ta b le w h e n T o m c o m e s h o m e fr o m w o r k , a n d sh e

g r a c io u s ly h o s t s h e r u n e x p e c te d g u e s t s , p r o v id in g a n a m p le su p p e r a n d

c o m fo r ta b le a c c o m m o d a t io n s . M o r e o v e r , s h e e x c u s e s h e r s e lf fr o m th e m a s c u l in e

c o m p a n y , r e t ir in g to b e d e a r ly a n d le a v in g th e m e n to th e ir ta lk . A lth o u g h b y

to d a y 's s ta n d a r d s h e r b e h a v io r s e e m s h o p e le s s ly o u td a te d , G o ld b e r r y is , in

m a n y w a y s , q u ite ty p ic a l o f th e 1 9 5 0 s h o m e m a k e r . C a n d ic e F re d r ic k a n d S a m

138 Mythlore 103/104, Fall/W inter 2008

Fair Lady Goldberry, Daughter of the River

M cB r id e c o m m e n t o n G o ld b e r r y in Women Among the Inklings: "In s o m e w a y s sh e

r e s e m b le s E d ith T o lk ien : h e r h u s b a n d id e a liz e s h e r a s a g r e a t b e a u ty , b u t o n a

m o r e p r a c tic a l le v e l sh e is c o o k a n d m a id , a p p r o p r ia te ly r e t ir in g b e fo r e th e m e n

b e g in se r io u s c o n v e r sa tio n " (110). B y r e le g a t in g G o ld b e r r y to th e s ta tu s o f c o o k

a n d m a id , h o w e v e r , o n e fa ils to r e c o g n iz e B o m b a d il's c o n tr ib u tio n : "A t la s t T o m

a n d G o ld b e r r y r o se a n d c le a r e d th e ta b le sw if t ly . T h e g u e s t s w e r e c o m m a n d e d to

s it q u ie t , a n d w e r e se t in ch a irs, e a c h w ith a fo o ts to o l to h is t ir e d feet" (LotR I:7,

123). G o ld b e r r y 's a c tio n s , a lo n g w ith T o m 's , are m o r e in d ic a t iv e o f h o s p ita l ity

th a n o f su b se r v ie n c e .

G o ld b e r r y r e p r e se n ts m u c h m o r e th a n a M id d le -e a r th h o u s e w if e . S h e

b r id g e s th e g a p b e tw e e n th e h ig h b o r n , n o b le , or m a g ic a l fe m a le s in th e n o v e l a n d

th e o r d in a r y w o m e n . E o w y n , A r w e n , a n d G a la d r ie l t y p i fy th e fo r m e r c a te g o r y ,

a n d L e s lie D o n o v a n n o te s th e h e r o ic q u a lit ie s o f th e s e w o m e n : " T o lk ie n 's

p r im a r y w o m e n c h a r a cte rs in The Lord of the R in g s— G a la d r ie l, S h e lo b , E o w y n ,

a n d A r w e n — are n a r r a tiv e a g e n ts c h a r g e d w ith th e a u th o r ity o f d is t in c t h e r o ic

w o m e n f ig u r e s fr o m O ld N o r s e m y t h o lo g y a n d lite ra tu re c a lle d th e v a lk y r ie s"

(108), " O d in 's s h ie ld m a id e n s ," w h o " o fte n fe ll in lo v e w ith m o r ta l h e r o es"

(C o tte r e ll a n d S to r m 21 4 , 2 4 5). Jane C h a n c e n o te s E o w y n 's r e s e m b la n c e to A n g lo -

S a x o n ro y a lty : " L ik e th e O ld E n g lish q u e e n W e a lh th e o w in Beowulf, w i f e o f

D a n is h k in g H r o th g a r , E o w y n in T o lk ie n 's te x t p a s s e s th e c u p at a h a ll c e r e m o n y

to k n it u p p e a c e a fter f e a s t in g in a jo y fu l g if t -g iv in g " (183), a n d L e s lie D o n o v a n

a sse r ts th a t " G a la d r ie l's r itu a l a sp e c t fu r th er r e s e m b le s th e c o u r t fu n c t io n s o f

v a lk y r ie f ig u r e s w h e n s h e g r a n ts g if t s to e a c h m e m b e r o f th e C o m p a n y " (116).

M o r e o v e r , n o t o n ly E o w y n , b u t a lso G a la d r ie l is a cu p -b ea r e r ; a s th e fe l lo w s h ip

p r e p a r e s to le a v e L o th lo r ie n , sh e a n d C e le b o r n sh a r e a p ic n ic w ith th e tra v elers:

" N o w G a la d r ie l r o se fr o m th e g r a ss , a n d ta k in g a c u p fr o m o n e o f h e r m a id e n s

sh e f i l le d it w ith w h it e m e a d a n d g a v e it to C e leb o rn . 'N o w it is t im e to d r in k th e

c u p o f fa r e w e ll,' sh e sa id . [ . . . ] T h e n s h e b r o u g h t th e c u p to e a c h o f th e C o m p a n y ,

a n d b a d e th e m d r in k a n d fa r e w e ll" (LotR II:8, 365). C le a r ly , th e A n g lo -S a x o n

tr a d it io n o f w o m a n as c u p -b e a r e r in f lu e n c e d T o lk ie n 's c re a tio n o f E o w y n a n d

G a la d r ie l, b u t th e s e w o m e n h a v e a s tr o n g e r p r e se n c e th a n r itu a l m e a d -h a l l

b e h a v io r w o u ld in d ic a te . D o n o v a n d e c la r es , " T o lk ie n c o n s tr u c ts th e m as

r e f le c t iv e o f m o r a l g o o d , h e r o ic id e a ls , n o b le b e h a v io r , a n d r e sp o n s ib le

le a d e r sh ip b y m e a n s o f a fe m a le id e n t ity c o n c o r d a n t w ith c o n te m p o r a r y

p e r c e p t io n s o f w o m e n a s s ig n if ic a n t fo r c e s w ith in s o c ie ty a n d th e w o r ld " (109).

H o w e v e r , F re d r ic k a n d M cB r id e m a in ta in th a t " a lth o u g h T o lk ie n p r o v id e s w h a t ,

at f irs t g la n c e , a p p e a r to b e s tr o n g fe m a le ch a r a c te rs in G a la d r ie l a n d E o w y n ,

G a la d r ie l la c k s th e n e c e s s a r y d e ta il to se r v e a s m o d e l fo r a n a c tiv e , w e l l- r o u n d e d

f e m a le E lf. E o w y n , d e p ic te d w ith p le n ty o f d e ta il, e m b r a c e s tr a d it io n a l fe m a le

r o le s ra th er th a n a s s e r t in g h e r s e lf a s a w a rrio r" (114). F red r ick a n d M cB r id e d o

n o t m e n t io n , h o w e v e r , th a t a lth o u g h T o lk ie n d e lib e r a te ly r e n d e r s h e r s o m e w h a t

Mythlore 27:1/2, Fall/W inter 2008 139

Ann McCauley Basso

m y s te r io u s , G a la d r ie l's p r e se n c e is sp r in k le d th r o u g h o u t th e n o v e l a fter th e

r e a d e r 's in it ia l e n c o u n te r w ith h e r in L o th lo r ie n , g iv in g th e im p r e s s io n th a t sh e

r e m a in s w ith th e fe l lo w s h ip in sp ir it. W h e n A r a g a o rn , L e g o la s , a n d G im li

e n c o u n te r th e R id e r s o f R o h a n , G o n d o r 's fu tu r e k in g in fo r m s th e m , " [ . .. ] w e

h a v e p a s s e d th r o u g h L o th lo r ie n , a n d th e g if t s a n d fa v o u r o f th e L a d y g o w ith u s"

(LotR III:2, 4 2 2). W h e n G a n d a lf a sk s G w a ih ir to ta k e h im to L o th lo r ie n , th e e a g le

r e p lie s , "T h at in d e e d is th e c o m m a n d o f th e L a d y G a la d r ie l w h o s e n t m e to lo o k

fo r y o u " (III:5 4 9 1). F r o d o e m p lo y s th e p h ia l o f G a la d r ie l to w a r d o f f S h e lo b 's

attack , a n d S a m in v o k e s h e r n a m e a s th e f in a l b lo w in h is fie r c e b a ttle w i t h th e

m a s s iv e sp id er : " 'G a la d rie l!' h e sa id fa in t ly , a n d th e n h e h e a r d v o ic e s far o f f b u t

clear: th e c r y in g o f th e E lv e s a s th e y w a lk e d u n d e r th e sta rs in th e b e lo v e d

s h a d o w s o f th e S h ire" (IV :10, 712).

In c o n tr a st to E o w y n a n d G a la d r ie l, th e o r d in a r y h o b b it -w o m e n o f th e

S h ire e x h ib it q u a lit ie s th a t are le s s e x o tic ; c o m m o n s e n s e , d e v o t io n to fa m ily , a n d

h a r d w o r k are th e h a llm a r k s o f th e s e ch a ra cters . T h e p r a g m a tic R o s ie C o tto n ,

b lis s fu l ly u n a w a r e o f th e o r d e a ls th a t S a m h a s e n d u r e d , g e n t ly b e r a te s h im fo r

b e in g a w a y so lo n g : " H u llo , Sam !" sa id R o s ie . " W h e r e 'v e y o u b e e n ? T h e y sa id

y o u w e r e d e a d ; b u t I 'v e b e e n e x p e c t in g y o u s in c e th e S p r in g . Y ou h a v e n 't

h u r r ie d , h a v e y o u ? " (LotR V I:8, 985). R o s ie c o n t in u e s to ta k e th e p r a c tic a l

a p p r o a c h w h e n sh e r e a liz e s th a t S a m h a s le ft F r o d o 's s id e : "If y o u 'v e b e e n

lo o k in g a fter M r. F r o d o a ll th is w h ile , w h a t d 'y o u w a n t to le a v e h im for, a s so o n

a s th in g s lo o k d a n g e r o u s? " (9 85). T h e se m o m e n ts m a y s e e m in c o n s e q u e n t ia l to

th e s to r y a s a w h o le , b u t T o lk ie n s a w th e m a s v e r y im p o r ta n t; h e p la n n e d for

R o s ie a n d S a m 's r e la t io n sh ip to se r v e a s a fo il to th e h ig h a n d n o b le lo v e b e tw e e n

A r a g o r n a n d A r w e n . In a le tter to M ilto n W a ld m a n , th e a u th o r e x p la in s h is

in ten t:

B ut th e h ig h e st lo v e-s to ry , th a t o f A ra g o rn an d A r w e n E lron d 's d a u g h ter is o n ly a llu d e d to as a k n o w n th in g . It is to ld e lse w h e r e in a sh ort ta le, Of Aragorn and Arwen Undomiel. I th in k th e sim p le 'rustic' lo v e o f Sam an d h is

R osie (n o w h ere e lab orated ) is absolutely essential to th e s tu d y o f h is (the

c h ie f h ero 's) character, an d to th e th e m e o f th e re la tio n o f ord in ary life

(breath ing, ea tin g , w o rk in g , b eg e ttin g ) a n d q u ests , sacrifice, ca u ses, and th e 'lo n g in g for E lves', a n d sh eer b eau ty . (Letters 160-1, e m p h a s is in

orig ina l)

T h is o b s e r v a tio n is h ig h ly in d ic a t iv e o f T o lk ie n 's o v e r r id in g th e m e: th e e le v a t io n

o f o r d in a r y p e o p le to th e e x tr a o r d in a r y . T o lk ie n n a m e s S am , h is m o s t h u m b le o f

ch a ra cters , a s th e tru e h e r o o f The Lord of the Rings. S a m 's in te r a c t io n w ith R o s ie

u p o n h is r e tu rn to T h e S h ire b r in g s h im r ig h t b a c k d o w n to ea rth , a n d a lth o u g h

sh e la ter e x p r e s s e s a d m ir a t io n fo r h is h e r o ic d e e d s , sh e in it ia l ly rea c ts in a n o ­

n o n s e n s e a n d s e n s ib le m a n n e r . O th e r e x a m p le s o f th e o r d in a r y w o m e n o f The

140 Mythlore 103/104, Fall/W inter 2008

Fair L ady Goldberry, D aughter o f the River

Lord of the Rings in c lu d e M rs. M a g g o t , w h o g e n e r o u s ly p r o v id e s h o s p i ta l it y a s

w e l l a s a b a s k e t o f h e r fa m o u s m u s h r o o m s , th e c o v e to u s y e t in n o c u o u s L o b e lia ,

a n d Iore th , th e w is e - w o m a n o f G o n d o r .

In b e tw e e n th e tw o e x tr e m e s o f th e p r a c tic a l a n d n o b le w o m e n l ie s

G o ld b e r r y , d a u g h te r o f th e r iv er . T h e h o b b its ' f irs t im p r e s s io n o f G o ld b e r r y is

o n e o f a w e: " T h ey c a m e a f e w t im id s te p s fu r th er in to th e r o o m , a n d b e g a n to

b o w lo w , f e e l in g s tr a n g e ly su r p r is e d a n d a w k w a r d , l ik e fo lk th a t, k n o c k in g at a

c o tta g e d o o r to b e g fo r a d r in k o f w a te r , h a v e b e e n a n s w e r e d b y a fa ir y o u n g e lf -

q u e e n c la d in l iv in g f lo w e r s" (LotR I:7, 121). H o w e v e r , a fter G o ld b e r r y sp e a k s

w ith th e m , F r o d o 's p e r c e p t io n o f h e r c h a n g e s:

"Fair la d y G oldberry!" sa id Frodo at last, fe e lin g h is heart m o v e w ith a joy

th a t h e d id n o t u n d ersta n d . H e sto o d as h e h a d at t im es sto o d en ch a n ted

b y fair e lv en -v o ices; b u t th e sp e ll th at w a s n o w la id u p o n h im w a s different: less keen and lofty was the delight, but deeper and nearer to mortal heart; marvellous and yet not strange. (LotR I :7 ,121, e m p h a s is ad d ed )

G o ld b e r r y r e p r e se n ts th e m id d le g r o u n d b e tw e e n th e t w o f e m in in e ty p e s in The Lord of the Rings. T h e h o b b its sy m b o lic a lly e n te r th r o u g h a p o r ta l to a n o th er

w o r ld , th e h e d g e g a te in to th e O ld F orest; in d o in g so th e y le a v e b e h in d th e

" n o rm a l" r e a lm o f T h e S h ire a n d c r o ss th e th r e s h o ld in to th e u n k n o w n .

G o ld b e r r y p a v e s th e w a y fo r th e m to a c c e p t a n d a p p r e c ia te sp e c ta c u la r fe m a le

f ig u r e s l ik e G a la d r ie l, A r w e n , a n d E o w y n .

E x a c t ly w h o is G o ld b e r r y , a n y w a y ? T o lk ie n f irs t in tr o d u c e s h e r in "T he

A d v e n tu r e s o f T o m B o m b a d il" a s a " p re tty m a id e n " w h o p u l ls T o m in to th e

r iv e r b y h is h a ir a n d te a s e s h im for fr ig h te n in g th e fish ; s h e is th e R iv e r -w o m a n 's

d a u g h te r w h o m T o m ta k e s h o m e to b e h is b r id e . T o lk ie n f ir s t p u b lis h e d th e

" A d v e n tu r e s" in Oxford m a g a z in e in 1934, a n d h e in c o r p o r a te d th e s to r y a n d

m o s t o f its c h a r a c te r s—T o m , G o ld b e r r y , O ld M a n W illo w , a n d th e B a rro w -

w i g h t — in to The Lord of the Rings. H o w e v e r , th e a u th o r d e lib e r a te ly le ft B o m b a d il

s o m e w h a t m y ste r io u s : " A n d e v e n in a m y th ic a l A g e th e r e m u s t b e so m e

e n ig m a s , a s th e r e a lw a y s are. T o m B o m b a d il is o n e ( in te n tio n a lly )" (Letters 174).

It f o l lo w s , th e n , th a t G o ld b e r r y 's s ta tu s w i l l a lso r e m a in e n ig m a t ic , a lth o u g h

cr itic s c e r ta in ly h a v e th e ir o p in io n s . R u th N o e l , in The Mythology of Middle Earth, m a in ta in s th a t G o ld b e r r y is a w a te r sp r ite (129), w h ile G e n e H a r g r o v e a r g u e s

th a t sh e m u s t b e a V alar, sp e c if ic a lly Y a v a n n a (23). M e lis s a M cC r o r y H a tc h e r

d is m is s e s G o ld b e r r y a s a " m y s t ic a l w a s h e r w o m a n " (44), a n d M a u r e e n T h u m

d o e s n o t in c lu d e h e r a m o n g th e w o m e n o f p o w e r " h id d e n in p la in v ie w ."

H o w e v e r , G o ld b e r r y d o e s r e p r e se n t o n e o f th e fo u r p e r ils T o m e n c o u n te r s in th e

" A d v e n tu r e s ," a lo n g w ith O ld M a n W illo w , B a d g e r -b r o ck , a n d th e B a rro w -

w ig h t . N o e l c o m m e n ts o n G o ld b e r r y a n d d a n g er :

Mythlore 27:1/2, Fall/W inter 2008 141

Ann McCauley Basso

W h ile B om b ad il w a s a forest g o d , G old b erry w a s as u n m ista k a b ly a

w atersp r ite . She w a s a n ix ie , th e R iv erw o m a n 's d au gh ter , d isc o v e re d b y

T o m a m o n g th e p o o ls o f th e m y ste r io u s W ith y w in d le . A s all th e o ther

creatures T o m m e t in "The A d v en tu r es o f T o m B om bad il" w ere d a n g ero u s , so G o ld b erry m u st h a v e been . (129)

B y th e t im e s h e a p p e a r s in The Lord of the Rings, h o w e v e r , " G o ld b e r ry n o lo n g e r

a p p e a r s d a n g e r o u s , b u t is a m o d e s t a n d b e a u t ifu l h o s te s s . S h e r e m a in s a w a te r

sp ir it, b u t th e w a te r sh e r e p r e se n ts is n o lo n g e r th e tr e a c h e r o u s W ith y w in d le , b u t

th e r a in s a n d s tr e a m s th a t r e p le n is h p la n t life" (N o e l 129). N e v e r th e le s s , th e

s u g g e s t io n o f a l in g e r in g d a n g e r a b o u t G o ld b e r r y a d d s d e p th a n d in te r e s t to h e r

ch a ra cter , ju s t a s it d o e s fo r G a la d r ie l's .

S u sa n C arter h a s o b s e r v e d th a t G a la d r ie l sh a r e s h e r in tr o d u c t io n w ith

C e le b o r n (77): " V ery ta ll th e y w e r e , a n d th e L a d y n o le s s ta ll th a n th e L ord ; a n d

th e y w e r e g r a v e a n d b e a u tifu l" (LotR II:7, 3 4 5). I su b m it th a t T o lk ie n a lso in it ia l ly

in tr o d u c e s b o th E o w y n a n d A r w e n w ith a m a n — T h e o d e n in th e c a se o f E o w y n ,

a n d E lro n d in th e c a se o f A r w e n . H o w e v e r , th e r e a d e r f irs t e n c o u n te r s G o ld b e r r y

c o m p le te ly a lo n e , su r r o u n d e d b y w a te r a n d f lo w e r s , c le a r ly r e p r e se n t in g th e

n a tu r a l w o r ld . T o lk ie n h im s e l f q u a lif ie s h e r a s a p a r t o f n a tu re , s ta t in g th a t "W e

are n o t in 'fa ir y - la n d ,' b u t in rea l r iv e r - la n d s in a u tu m n . G o ld b e r r y r e p r e se n ts th e

a c tu a l s e a so n a l c h a n g e s in su c h la n d s" (Letters 272).

A t f irs t g la n c e , th e e a r ly c h a p te r s o f th e Fellowship d o n o t s e e m

p a r tic u la r ly r e le v a n t to th e m a in p lo t; in fact, P e te r J a c k so n e lim in a te d m u c h o f

th e in it ia l e ig h t c h a p te r s fo r h is f i lm v e r s io n . H o w e v e r , th e e p is o d e s c o n ta in e d in

th e f irs t b o o k p r o v id e a s tr u c tu r a l s y m m e tr y w ith la ter e v e n ts th a t c o n s t itu te s an

im p o r ta n t e le m e n t o f th e r is in g a c tio n . For e x a m p le , F ro d o , S am , a n d P ip p in

u n e x p e c te d ly f in d h e lp o n th e r o a d , w h e n G ild o r a n d th e e lv e s o ffer th e m

c o u n s e l a n d sa n c tu a r y fo r th e e v e n in g . T h is e p is o d e is m ir r o r e d in B o o k F ou r

w h e n , a s E lro n d h a s fo r e to ld , F ro d o a n d S a m o b ta in u n e x p e c te d h e lp a n d

h o s p ita l ity fr o m F aram ir. T h e terror o f th e B a r r o w -d o w n s , in w h ic h T o m

B o m b a d il r e s c u e s F ro d o fr o m th e h o r r ify in g y e t a m o r p h o u s B a r r o w -w ig h t ,

p a r a lle ls th e in v a s io n o f W e a th e r to p , in w h ic h A r a g o r n r e s c u e s F ro d o fr o m th e

h o r r ify in g y e t a m o r p h o u s B la ck R id e r s . T h e O ld F o r e st o f B o o k O n e c lo s e ly

r e s e m b le s F a n g o r n F o re st o f B o o k T h r e e , a n d T o m B o m b a d il, th e o ld a n d w is e

g u a r d ia n o f th e F o rest, m irr o rs T r ee b e a rd , th e o ld a n d w is e sh e p h e r d o f th e trees.

T h e n w e h a v e G o ld b e r r y , r e f le c te d in B o o k T w o b y h e r c o u n te r p a r t G a la d r ie l.

W e c o u ld a lm o s t ca ll G o ld b e r r y " G a la d r ie l L ite." T h e in it ia l d e sc r ip t io n s

o f th e t w o c h a r a cte rs are v e r y s im ila r , a n d th e ir n a m e s a llite r a t iv e ly s ig n a l th e ir

r e se m b la n c e . G o ld b e r r y 's n a m e d e n o te s a c o m b in a t io n o f th e p r e c io u s w ith th e

n a tu ra l, a n d G a la d r ie l's n a m e is tr a n s la te d b y T o lk ie n a s m e a n in g " G litte r in g

g a r la n d ," th u s l in k in g th e tw o n a m e s th e m a t ic a lly a s w e l l . L. E u g e n e S ta r tzm a n ,

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Fair Lady Goldberry, Daughter of the River

in h is a r tic le " G o ld b e r ry a n d G a la d r ie l: T h e Q u a lity o f Joy" c a lls G a la d r ie l

" G o ld b e r r y 's c o u n terp a rt" (5); T o lk ie n in tr o d u c e s h e r a s a r e s p le n d e n t f ig u r e o f

n a tu re :

H er lo n g y e llo w hair r ip p led d o w n her sh ou ld ers; her g o w n w a s green , g r ee n as y o u n g reeds, sh o t w ith silver lik e b ea d s o f d ew ; an d her b e lt w a s

o f g o ld , sh a p e d lik e a ch a in o f fla g -lilie s set w ith th e p a le -b lu e e y e s o f fo rget-m e-n ots. A b o u t h er fee t in w id e v e sse ls o f g reen an d b r o w n

earth en w are, w h ite w a ter-lilie s w e re floa tin g , so that sh e se e m e d to be

en th ro n ed in th e m id st o f a p o o l. (LotR I:7, 121)

G a la d r ie l's in tr o d u c t io n is r e m a r k a b ly sim ilar:

T h e cham ber w a s filled w ith a so ft light; its w a lls w e re g reen an d silver

a n d its ro o f o f g o ld . [ .. .] O n tw o chairs b e n e a th th e b o le o f th e tree and

c a n o p ie d b y a liv in g b o u g h there sat, s id e b y sid e , C eleb o rn a n d G aladriel.[ . ] T h ey w e re c la d w h o lly in w h ite; a n d th e hair o f th e L ad y w a s o f d eep

g o ld [ .. .] . (11:7, 345)

O th e r p a r a lle ls b e tw e e n th e t w o w o m e n in c lu d e th e ir m u s ic a l a b ility ; G o ld b e r r y

s in g s to T o m B o m b a d il a n d th e h o b b its , a n d G a la d r ie l p o s s e s s e s a v o ic e th a t is

" clear a n d m u s ic a l" (II:7, 3 4 6), s in g in g to th e c o m p a n y b e fo r e th e y d e p a r t fr o m

L o th lo r ie n (II:8, 3 6 8). T h e m o s t s tr ik in g s y m m e tr y b e tw e e n th e s e t w o ch aracters ,

h o w e v e r , is th e m a n n e r o f th e ir f in a l fa r e w e lls to th e h o b b its:

[T ]hey sa w G old berry, n o w sm a ll an d slen d er lik e a su n lit flo w er again st

th e sky: sh e w a s sta n d in g still w a tc h in g th em , an d her h a n d s w ere

stretch ed o u t to w a r d s th em . A s th e y lo o k e d sh e g a v e a clear call, and l if t in g u p h er h a n d sh e tu rn ed an d v a n ish e d b e h in d th e h ill. (1:8, 133)

A s th e F e l lo w s h ip h e a d s so u th o n th e G rea t R iv er , F r o d o s e e s G a la d r ie l o n th e

sh ore:

She sh o n e lik e a w in d o w o f g la ss u p o n a far h ill in th e w e ste r in g su n , as a

rem o te lake se e n from a m ou n ta in : a crysta l fa llen in th e lap o f th e land.T h en it se e m e d to F rod o th at sh e lifted her arm s in a fin a l farew ell, an d far

b u t p ierc in g-c lear o n th e fo llo w in g w in d cam e th e so u n d o f her v o ic e sin g in g . (II:8, 368)

G a la d r ie l r a is e s h e r a r m in s a lu te o n th e r o a d h o m e fr o m G o n d o r a s w e ll:

" [T ]h ere c a m e o u t o f th e g a th e r in g m is t a fla sh ; a n d th e n th e y s a w n o m o r e .

F r o d o k n e w th a t G a la d r ie l h a d h e ld a lo ft h e r r in g in to k e n o f fa r e w e ll" (VI:6,

963).

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C ritic s h a v e n o te d G a la d r ie l's s im ila r ity to th e V ir g in M ary; M ic h a e l

M a h le r 's a r tic le " 'A L a n d w ith o u t S ta in ': M e d ie v a l Im a g e s o f M a r y a n d T h e ir

U s e in th e C h a r a c te r iz a tio n o f G a la d r ie l" e n u m e r a te s th e tra its r e c o u n te d in th e

L o r e to L ita n y a n d a sc r ib e s th e m to G a la d r ie l. T o lk ie n h im s e l f a c k n o w le d g e s th e

p a r a lle ls: "I th in k it is tr u e th a t I o w e m u c h o f th is ch a ra cter to C h r is t ia n a n d

C a th o lic te a c h in g a n d im a g in a t io n a b o u t M a ry " (Letters 4 0 7 ). H o w e v e r , T o lk ie n

a lso fa m o u s ly s ta te d , "I c o r d ia lly d is l ik e a l le g o r y in a ll its m a n ife s ta t io n s , a n d

a lw a y s h a v e d o n e so s in c e I g r e w o ld a n d w a r y e n o u g h to d e te c t its p r e se n c e "

(LotR F o r e w a r d x v ii) , a n d c le a r ly h e h a s c re a ted , in G a la d r ie l, n o t a n a lle g o r ic a l

ch a ra cter b u t o n e w h o sh a r e s q u a lit ie s w ith M a ry . G o ld b e r r y , w h o p r e c e d e s

G a la d r ie l in th e sto r y , r e c a lls M a r y 's p r e d e c e s so r E ve , a n d M ilto n fo l lo w s

C h r is tia n tr a d it io n b y c o n n e c t in g M a r y a n d E v e in Paradise Lost: " O n w h o m th e

a n g e l 'h a il' / B e s to w e d , th e h o ly sa lu ta t io n u s e d / L o n g after to b le s s e d M a ry ,

s e c o n d E ve" (5 .3 8 5 -8 7 ).

T o m B o m b a d il t e lls h is h o b b it g u e s t s th a t h e is " E ld e st [...]. M a rk m y

w o r d s , m y fr ie n d s: T o m w a s h e r e b e fo r e th e r iv e r a n d th e trees; T o m r e m e m b e r s

th e f irs t r a in d r o p a n d th e f irs t acorn " (LotR I:7, 129). T h is fact, c o u p le d w ith h is

c o n n e c t io n to th e n a tu ra l, E d e n -lik e w o r ld o f th e O ld F o rest, r e n d e r s h im

a n a lo g o u s to A d a m . It f o l lo w s , th e n , th a t G o ld b e r r y , th e d a u g h te r o f th e r iver,

r e la te s to E ve; s ig n if ic a n t ly , M ilto n 's E v e f irs t a w a k e n s b e s id e a r iv e r -fe d lake:

T hat d a y I o ft rem em ber, w h e n from sleep

I first a w a k ed an d fo u n d m y se lf rep o se d

U n d er a sh a d e o f flow ers, m u c h w o n d e r in g w h er e A n d w h a t I w a s , w h e n c e th ith er b ro u g h t a n d h o w .N o t d ista n t far from th e n c e a m u rm u rin g so u n d

O f w a ters is su e d from a cave an d sp read

Into a liq u id p la in , th e n sto o d u n m o v e d

P ure as th e ex p a n se o f H eaven ; [ .. .] (4.449-56)

S ta r tzm a n r e c o g n iz e s T o m a n d G o ld b e r r y 's s im ila r ity to th e c o u p le fr o m

G en e s is : " T o m a n d G o ld b e r r y s im p ly are, a n A d a m a n d E v e , fr e e a n d u n fa lle n ,

ca re ta k ers , le f t in th e w o r ld a s a r e m in d e r o f m a n 's tr u e sta te" (8). G o ld b e r r y

p r e p a r e s a m e a l for th e tra v e lers: "Is th e ta b le la d e n ? I s e e y e l lo w c re a m a n d

h o n e y c o m b , a n d w h it e b r e a d , a n d b u tter; m ilk , c h e e se , a n d g r e e n h e r b s a n d r ip e

b e r r ie s g a th e r e d " (LotR I:7, 122). T h is m e a l th a t G o ld b e r r y p r e p a r e s fo r th e ir

g u e s t s r e c a lls th e o n e E v e p r e p a r e s fo r th e a n g e l R a p h a el:

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Fair Lady Goldberry, Daughter of the River

She gathers, tr ib ute large, an d o n th e board

H ea p s w ith u n sp a r in g hand; for drink , th e grape

She cru sh es, in o ffe n siv e m u st, a n d m e a d s

F rom m a n y a berry, an d from sw e e t k ern e ls p r e sse d She te m p er s d u lce t cream s. (M ilton 5.343-47)

M u c h l ik e A d a m a n d E v e , T o m a n d G o ld b e r r y a p p e a r to b e th e o n ly p e o p le in

th e E d e n - lik e O ld F o rest, b u t th e y are h a p p y to w e lc o m e g u e s t s a n d are v e r y

h o s p ita b le .

C r itic s h a v e la m e n te d th e tr e a tm e n t o f th e f e m in in e in T o lk ie n 's w o r k

a n d s o m e c la im th a t th e e a r ly c h a p te r s o f The Fellowship of the Ring h a v e litt le

r e le v a n c e to th e cen tra l p lo t . H o w e v e r , se v e r a l in c id e n ts in th e e a r ly c h a p te r s —

th e h o b b its ' e n c o u n te r s w ith G ild o r , T o m B o m b a d il a n d G o ld b e rr y , a n d th e

B a r r o w -w ig h t— p a r a lle l a n d a d u m b r a te s im ila r , m o r e s ig n if ic a n t e v e n ts th a t

o c cu r la ter in th e n a rra tiv e . G o ld b e r r y h a s d r a w n lit t le cr itica l a tte n tio n , b u t sh e

o c c u p ie s a n im p o r ta n t p la c e in T o lk ie n 's c a st o f f e m a le ch a ra cters , a g r o u p th a t

c a n — for th e m o s t p a r t— b e d iv id e d in to tw o c a teg o r ie s : th e h ig h -b o r n w o m e n o f

e le v a te d s ta tu s a n d th e s im p le c o u n tr y w o m e n o f G o n d o r a n d th e Sh ire .

G o ld b e r r y r e p r e se n ts th e via media b e tw e e n th e t w o ty p e s o f w o m e n , e x h ib it in g

c h a r a c te r is t ic s o f b o th . S h e r e s e m b le s E v e in h e r lu s h G a rd en o f E d e n a n d s e r v e s

a s a m o r e h u m a n p r e cu rso r a n d p a r a lle l to th e " su p e r e lv e n " G a la d r ie l, p r e p a r in g

b o th th e r ea d er a n d th e fo u r h o b b its fo r th e w o n d e r s th a t are to c o m e .

F u r th e rm o r e , th e h a p p y a n d c o m p a t ib le p a r tn e r sh ip sh e sh a r e s w ith T o m

B o m b a d il c o n fo r m s to T o lk ie n 's id e a s a b o u t m a r r ie d l ife fo r h o b b it s — th e

" d y a rch y " in w h ic h e a c h p e r so n h a s e q u a l s ta tu s b u t d if fe r e n t r o le s — a n d

a n tic ip a te s th e fr u itfu l c o n te n tm e n t th a t c h a r a c te r iz e s S a m 's m a r r ia g e to R o s ie .

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